Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael and Mendoza Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael and Mendoza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,302 per month in San Rafael vs $1,332 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,078 per month in San Rafael vs $2,085 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,853 per month in San Rafael vs $2,838 in Mendoza, rent included.

San Rafael is about 2% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Rafael and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – San Rafael 5% lower, Mendoza 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.20 ARS 16.9K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 ARS 76.5K

$50.7 ARS 76.7K

-0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.45 ARS 21.9K

$14.75 ARS 22.3K

-2.03%

Cappuccino

$4.51 ARS 6,821

$4.40 ARS 6,649

2.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ARS 3,542

$2.42 ARS 3,658

-3.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ARS 2,993

$1.96 ARS 2,968

1.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.11 ARS 6,216

$4.07 ARS 6,160

0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 ARS 6,609

$4.56 ARS 6,890

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ARS 2,092

$1.40 ARS 2,112

-1.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 ARS 3,348

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.68 ARS 4,054

$2.78 ARS 4,197

-3.60%

Eggs

$3.32 ARS 5,018

$3.25 ARS 4,914

2.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.53 ARS 22.0K

$14.70 ARS 22.2K

-1.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 ARS 9,400

$6.21 ARS 9,396

0.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ARS 16.3K

$11.04 ARS 16.7K

-2.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 ARS 3,507

$2.31 ARS 3,499

0.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 ARS 3,386

$2.21 ARS 3,346

1.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ARS 1,967

$1.31 ARS 1,975

-0.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.30 ARS 4,994

$3.34 ARS 5,049

-1.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ARS 3,079

$2.00 ARS 3,028

2.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 ARS 2,254

$1.50 ARS 2,275

-0.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 ARS 2,973

$1.94 ARS 2,931

1.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 ARS 3,799

$2.47 ARS 3,742

1.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.67 ARS 4,038

$2.70 ARS 4,086

-1.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.97 ARS 7,517

$4.93 ARS 7,461

0.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ARS 2,668

$1.70 ARS 2,569

3.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ARS 4,509

$2.94 ARS 4,448

1.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ARS 1,596

$0.97 ARS 1,470

9.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.05 ARS 30.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 ARS 3,006

$2.05 ARS 3,106

-2.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ARS 1,538

$1.03 ARS 1,551

-0.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 ARS 7,206

$4.80 ARS 7,264

-0.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ARS 1,828

$1.22 ARS 1,846

-0.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.8K ARS 40.5M

$27.3K ARS 41.3M

-1.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.4K ARS 50.4M

$33.0K ARS 50.0M

0.92%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$135 ARS 204.1K

$134 ARS 203.0K

0.51%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.28 ARS 26.1K

$17.34 ARS 26.2K

-0.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.27 ARS 35.2K

$23.56 ARS 35.6K

-1.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.36 ARS 51.9K

$29.72 ARS 44.9K

15.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.02 ARS 27.3K

Cinema Ticket

$7.28 ARS 11.0K

$7.21 ARS 10.9K

0.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$176 ARS 266.8K

$173 ARS 261.8K

1.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,176 ARS 6.3M

$4,161 ARS 6.3M

0.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$116 ARS 175.5K

$113 ARS 170.9K

2.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$124 ARS 187.0K

-0.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 ARS 205.3K

$136 ARS 205.5K

-0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ARS 193.3K

$128 ARS 194.0K

-0.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ARS 755.4K

$486 ARS 734.8K

2.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ARS 450.0K

$330 ARS 498.3K

-9.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$932 ARS 1.4M

$865 ARS 1.3M

7.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$752 ARS 1.1M

$651 ARS 984.8K

15.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,683 ARS 2.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,116 ARS 1.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$779 ARS 1.2M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Rafael: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in San Rafael versus $486 in Mendoza. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in San Rafael versus $51.0 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $286 – making San Rafael the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Rafael vs Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,953 per month in San Rafael and $1,999 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Rafael, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,302 in San Rafael and $1,332 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $176 per month in San Rafael and $173 in Mendoza. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Rafael, where all-in costs run around $1,302, than in Mendoza at $1,332. In San Rafael it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Rafael – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Rafael. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mendoza makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.